This and his performance in Fatal Attraction are the best he's ever done. Wall Street is ok and he got the award for it but Michael Douglas is by far an Outstanding Actor, Period!!!!!
He was on fire in the 90’s, actually starting in the late 80’s. Fatal Attraction, Wall Street, Basic Instinct, Disclosure, American President, Ghost in The Darkness, The Game.
I was 20 (almost 21) when this movie came out and liked it then. Now, I'm almost 50, and see it in a completely different light. After half a century of seeing what a garbage dump life is it isn't just a superficially entertaining movie. The way he looks at it all he wants is an honest job, his wife and kid and to live the American dream and be left alone. Not justifying some of the things he does by any means, but I can understand him. Amazing the way age changes your perspective on things.
@Pacho Pacho - Anybody can live the American dream, it's what YOU make out of it, not what others portray it to be. My family and I immigrated here, didn't know the language, were dirt poor and after working our asses off are now successful. We live our version of the American dream.
False. it's a story about being a HUMAN in the U.S. Plain and simple. It has nothing to do with race or "privilege", and has everything to do with class, and just trying to be a decent person in a world filled with very shitty people who assume privilege.
My dad was a barber. Years ago, one of his steady customers got his hair cut. The following day the customer committed suicide. In hindsight, my dad is convinced the customer was planning his suicide and wanted a hair cut so he looked good at his own funeral. My dad said the customer never showed a clue he was suicidal during his hair cut. One never knows what is going on in a persons life.
Cool! We have: "Silent water grinds the shores". But in this case better is: "So long they walk with a jug for wager, until the handle is torn off" - Czech :-)
@@avrahamstern4550 "Jeszcze Polska nie zginęła" (Poland Is Not Yet Lost), which is the first line of the Polish national anthem. Understandable when you have both Germany and Russia for next door neighbors. 🇵🇱
Yeah, it's called a movie...a fantasy written by a playwright, scriptwriters in Hollywood, and acted out in front of the cameras with a director, a producer, a wardrobe master, makeup artists and they act it over and over again until they get it right. That is what it is. It has absolutely nothing to do with anyone's reality.
This is one of the most profound character studies in film. Everyone in the audience is living through him and having a hard time distancing themselves from him. Many of us have come close to where he is. He is a part of us.
Very eloquently said. I've been very close to this point in my past too.Fortunately I was able to move on, because the assholes in my sights weren't worth me going to prison or dying over.
Note that a movie like this wouldn't be possible now anymore. Movies have to be about difficult but fullfilling friendship with immigrants or gay/transsexual people.
That briefcase represents his old life, and what little sanity he has left. That's why he's so unwilling to part with it. He doesn't want to lose his one link to a normal life, where he and his education matters. Later in the film, he gives the briefcase to the guy in the park. That's his way of letting go of his old self, and fully embracing the fact that he's no longer sane.
He's definitely sane, he was literally subjected to constant narcissitic abuse. He encountered a dozen of insane people. He's the only sane one on screen.
The absolute pinnacle of excellence of this movie is this is a textbook example of how a character arc transforms over the course of a screenplay. It starts out as justifiied behavior and crosses eventually into the fact that the Douglas has to be taken down. It is a brilliant piece of theater.
This movie is actually one of the reasons I treat people good in public. I don't want people to fall. It's also the reason I don't push people with rudeness and such in public either. You never know where someone is at in life. I don't want to be harmed and I don't want other people to harm themselves. It feels better to smile than frown.
It's odd that I stumbled on your comment as I don't call people rude names in the comment section of youtube. I thanked a doctor for posting a summary of several recent science articles on covid and I was attacked for stating a simple "thank you" comment.
Yeah, I thought of that when I saw that shootout outside the bank in North Hollywood like the movie "Heat" -- when I realized those two guys drove in traffic to get to the bank in body armor with guns and ammo all over. They were in the car in front of you, possibly, when you thought of honking your horn and giving them the finger at one point, not realizing they were suicidal killers.
“Has it ever struck you that life is all memory, except for the one present moment that goes by you so quick you hardly catch it going?”― Tennessee Williams....
@Pacho Pacho bravo for taking 20 something minutes to look it up. Or, as I like to put it, you have no clue who they are cause they're bit actors. Michael Douglas on the other hand is an A List actor name from an acting dynasty. You are race baiting, nothing more than that. Cut the bullshit and stop trying to separate the world. There was no malice, and nothing race related in the dude's comment. By the way, their acting was sub par at best and in roughly 3 total minutes of the movie, versus the main character that starred in it throughout. GTFOH
This movie has an insane number of great quotes and dialogues, but the "You forgot the briefcase!" always cracks me up the most. All in all, one of the most badass movies ever.
My Grandma had this on VHS and she caught me watching it as a kid when visiting on the weekend. She about died thinking it was going to warp my mind. "It's ok Grandma, I've already watched it 3 times".
Some of us are a couple of fries short of a happy meal. I've got 2 young. bro.s & their paybacks to those who offended them make me look like G. McFly "BackTO Future"
*"Listen fellows, I've had a really rare morning..."* Its my favorite line... It complete embodies the entire film and his character in one brief sentence.
This movie is amazing. When you're younger you see him as the villain, but as you get older you can totally relate with him and understand why he's doing all of this. I even caught myself rooting for him at times.
A lot of men can relate to this character. They go to college, get a job, are law obeying citizens just trying to eke out an honest living in today's ridiculously expensive society. They did everything right and everything society tells us we should do and it didn't get them very far. Then they lose what little they did have... their job of 20 years or their wife divorces them and they have to pay child support and only get to see their kids once in awhile while their wife has already moved on to some new guy. Many men have a similar story. Most don't snap like this character but you can easily see how it can get to this point.
@@Ed.strell scent of a woman is a shite film! Pacino only won an oscar for it because they realised they'd fucked up by not giving him one years ago when he actually deserved one!
Not really, it was made at the right time. It's just gotten infinitely worse since then for most people and so, the movie just becomes ever more relevant.
@@StephenDoty84 A sequel would be kind of pointless, since the problems addressed in the movie are still very much present. Which is horrible, considering that this means that basically nothing has changed in the past 30 years.
FALLING DOWN is probably the greatest achievement in the history of American cinema in last 50 years. Michael Douglas have delivered masterful acting in this movie that deserve highest praise and accolades, his craftsmanship which he has displayed in the movie is incredibly good. Douglas is simply SUPER. IT is an accomplished American photo play of the highest order with deep analysis of sickness of American society and anatomy of an isolated person rejected by society. Joel Schumacher who directed this movie is a MAESTRO. I love this movie, so much.
This scene always leaves me feeling a bit giddy, I grew up on the wrong side of town and had too many confrontations like this. The Michael Douglas character portrays the tension of the situation perfectly. You just can't reason with some people. One of the marker indicators of complete naivety in people is those among us who insist 'always be nice others' as a life strategy to avoid trouble. If you signal an unwillingness to stand your ground people will take advantage of that. That's coming from a guy who's survived two murder attempts, coward punched several times, and set upon by gangs. Nice does not work.
Same! But our skills never leave. Boy do I feel like this guy now just burnt the heck out on this crap and addicts also feel like Eastwood "Get off my lawn" Be safe!
Nice works where it's needed. Being an asshole 'just in case' will likely get you into more shit than out of it. The key thing is being able to judge a situation accordingly and use your instincts while reading signals from someone you may get into a confrontation with.
well, he was breathing fast and acted intimidated so I think the gang members sensed fear. what they didn't realize is that he wasn't scared, he was getting angry.
I knew a bouncer and pro fighter who told some guy in a bar to stop talking to his girlfriend. The guy said not use that tone with him and asked him if he wanted to fight, not realizing it was literally the only thing that bouncer knew how to do. He fought almost every day for years. So he said, "Sure" in a way that was so matter of fact, I imagine, that the other guy should have paused. Instead, outside, the bouncer dislocated the guy's elbow for him.
@@StephenDoty84 Wow. Sometimes lessons are not fun. My best friend in the mid 80's was in a bar. Two guys were pinching girls butts, and just causing trouble. The bouncer who had a black belt threw them out. They started cussing him, so he started walking toward them. The next thing he knew, he got stabbed in the chest. About 20 guys came out of the bar, including my friend. One of the trouble making guys had a wooden leg, and these 2 grew up in a bad part of town. They were mean, dangerous, and weren't playing around. They turned, and acted like they were leaving, when one of them pulled out a 32 revolver, and started unloading it into the crowd. My friend got shot in the leg, and another got shot in the right shoulder. Everyone started scattering, as he reloaded, and began shooting again. My friend said they were about 25 yards out, and this guy was hitting everything in sight. 3 more guys were hit, one dying later at the hospital. 8 police cars showed up, and cornered them on a hill. Today when I talk to my friend. We both agree. If you can avoid the situation all together, or try and defuse it. Thats your best bet. I realize some are impossible to avoid, but at 56 years old, I've learned most people respond to kindness, and respect quite nice.
When he throws the bat at that guy, he's so mad he no longer cares he's thrown it away. Even without the bat if either one of those guys had come back, he'd have torn them apart such was his rage.
This is typical gang behavior. A bunch of cowards that only attack when they outnumber their opponents, somebody isn't armed, they sneak up on you, or they have no chance to fight back. I like how the guy gets up and just runs away leaving his "friend" on the ground to get killed alone.
@@randomfrog7974 no they wouldnt lol. irl he wouldve been mugged and thats it. at most beat up. they arent going to decapitate someone for no reason in broad daylight.
You shouldn't mistreat or take advantage of people in general, but this scene in particular is an especially important example of why its NEVER a good idea to continually antagonize someone who is, in the face of danger, being calm and courteous. I can assure you from experience, the scariest and often most dangerous individuals are not the ones that act like a tough guy, its the ones that are doing everything they can to remain civil, and once you've pushed them beyond their reasonable limits, you'll realize you've just opened Pandora's box.
This is a very movie-inspired statement. In real life, people shouting around like madmen are most likely dangerous and people who don't speak up are most likely easy victims.
And I can assure you that in real life, if this situation happened, no matter what you say, Michael Douglas would be dead. Calm or not. Lol Fuck outta here with that calm b.s. This is a movie. The shit that happened in this scene wouldn't have happened like this. AT ALL.
@@anthonyjoseph618 It takes time for that to happen. In this case, in real life, he would be dead. Just stop defending this comment. It's naive af. And if you want to test out the theory if whether or not a quiet person can be a killer then you stay quiet for a while and see what happens. lol
I almost started shit with a guy in my town in the street for giving me dirty looks. Later on I talked to him at a coffee shop and found out he was training in knife fighting for years to be a martial arts instructor and always carried a knife hidden near his belt. That could have gone wrong for me, looking back.
This movie when it came out was sorely under appreciated and overshadowed by bigger productions. I really don’t think a lot of the public got the meaning of this movie, looking at it now I can see the metaphor for how life burns people out to the point where they just want to get back to the basics of life or just “go home”
@albert fish George would win. George: I've been putting up with your $hit for 35 years. Maybe I'll break your arm like you broke mine back in 1955. Proceeds to do so while Biff's gang watches in shock. He then throws Biff into huge pile of manure. George: see? Thats for all the $hit I had to put up with you for 35 years. (Looks at Biff's gang) anyone else want to try me?? They take off for the hills.
@@kevinscarborough9982 Strickland would win. Strickland: you're a slacker. Just because they're slackers too doesn't mean, you can stoop down to their level. It gives you no excuse for what you did today or the past 38 years. Strickland turns him into police and/or mental institution
Always remember that a normal person not under the influence of drugs or alcohol has far superior reaction times. Keep your cool and strike like a flash of lightning, it's a winner! The shock to the second observing muppet is usually enough to make him run.
When someone takes a deep breath and says "I've had a really rare morning" in a very calm voice, that might be a good time to drop the BS and just leave them alone.
“Maybe if you wrote it in f**ing English I could f**ing understand it.” Oh How I wish this movie came out this year. The amount of butthurt would be classic. Awesome movie.
Michael Douglas has never been afraid of taking challenging his roles which is just one of several reasons that he is considered to be one of the greatest actors of his generation.
Unreasonable for a fella that gets hit upside his head with a bat like that not staying down for the count. He kissed him upside the cranium with a bat.
If only the middle. The WHOLE thing! ProPublica just revealed how the rich have gamed the system to avoid income taxes almost completely. So while their earnings and wealth have ballooned over the last several decades, their taxes have fallen too! What a scam! You and I pay thousands and thousands, the wealthy drop a buck in the bucket! Billionaire parasites destroying America with each successive tax cut.
@@DieselDog1982 stop sniffing the diesel, it's making you dumber! I'm advocating for the millions who have been disenfranchised by a system designed to steal prosperity. I'm arguing for the homeless millions who have done everything right, worked hard and still found themselves on the street. Unfortunately your assumptions reveal your limited ability to see the problem at hand. It has nothing to do with me, whether I'm a successful, smart, financially stable individual, or an uneducated poor drug addict. That's what we call IRRELEVANT! This is what makes the American situation so difficult - when you point out the systemic problems, the inane reply is always, "Well, then make something of yourself!" Sorry buddy, I'm already financially independent and enjoying the good life. When I was discussing the dire situation with an entitled rich kid, his reply was, "Well, then let's make sure we're the rich ones!" Apparently, sadism is now an American virtue. How much you can make the other suffer is the solution! And you've exhibited it perfectly! Running on the endless hamster wheel is NOT the solution. Working more hours, sucking up to the boss and kissing his ass even more makes you the biggest dupe there is. You advocate doing this so the rich can get richer and laugh at your puritan work ethic. What a fool!
@@dudeonbike800 Respectfully, you have fallen victim to less than true facts. Wealthy and very wealthy people pay multiples more in taxes. Personally, they have no assets so they, personally, do not pay. However their source of funding, "their riches" do pay taxes through various means. I am correct, you are wrong and your writing clearly indicates your anger; and your anger likely drives you deeper down the path of incorrect information.
@@vectorm4 nope, nope, nope. The rich pay far, FAR less than they ever did. The US led the world in progressive taxation. That has been undermined at every turn over the last five decades. As the rich have seen their incomes balloon, we've cut their taxes at the same time. That's called runaway wealth. I've read enough on the issues that I'll refer to Thomas Picketty, David Cay Johnston, Paul Krugman, Jacob Hacker, Gabriel Zucman and many others who simply and easily refute your weak claim. Sorry, but the published economists and authors have detailed the phenomenon as clear as day. But please, be my guest trying to assert you have a more impressive resume than just ONE of the above, much less than all of them! Laughable. And why are you here defending those who have legal teams acting on their behalf? They already own our representatives, regulators and agencies! But you're here donating your time to help those poor 0.01%'ers. What a cause you've chosen to undertake!
So many great scenes in this movie that we can relate to. I especially like the "Whammyburger" scene where he can't get breakfast because he is a couple minutes late. Then he deals with the idiot manager. Love it.
The thing is, there's a good reason why you can't get breakfast passed a certain point. The heat at which you cook the breakfast menu is a lot cooler than the one you flip burgers on but it's the same kitchen equipment. They don't cut the menu off at 10:30 because they're trying to fuck you over, they're just using the hotplate for cooking the daytime menu. But that's what a lot of people don't understand about this movie. Sure, you're meant to relate, the movie is designed to do that. But ultimately he's just another self-centered asshole whose sure of his own moral superiority. The long arc of the film is him trying to see his kid, but the reason he can't is because his wife has had to put a restraining order out on him because of his violent tendancies.
Right, right?! How Newton Howard keeps playing that warped sound at 3:08 and then it resurfaces in full force after D-Fens shoots the thug after their drive by attempt, this time with drums and the horn theme. Just perfect for the realisation of his transition as he continues to fight back.
You never know what someone is going through. In the movie, "Falling Down", Michael Douglas's character is at the end of his rope and people keep underestimating him. This man has clearly come to the end. He lost his family, his job, and any hope he might have had to regain them. There is nothing more dangerous than a man who has nothing left to lose.
The acting is brilliant and this is one of my all time favorite movies. Definitely it was ahead of it's time when it came out. I also love how he gets an upgrade after each confrontation.
Absolutely one of the best scenes in movie history. We can all relate. A couple of turds who know how to do nothing but harass, steal from and in general be pains in the ass to the rest of the world and they run across an otherwise peaceful, honest, hard working guy on the wrong damn day. Beautiful.
Everyone should be required to watch this movie before their senior year of high school. It would help prepare them in choosing what to do after graduating.
